7 minute read
A Word with John Moore
by Cooke NC
John Moore
Through pandemic, We have remained One Farmville
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2020 WAS A NEW YEAR THAT BEGAN THE SAME WAY AS NEW YEARS HAVE BEGUN.
Celebratory fireworks exploding to mark the passing of another year, gatherings of families and friends to enjoy traditional New Year’s Day collard greens and black eyed peas for luck and prosperity. Then we learned of a novel virus that was infecting the world, and in March 2020 it came to our town. COVID-19 became very real to our community and it became a factor in every decision that was made in the way the Town of Farmville conducted business.
When it was evident that COVID-19 was an alarming problem, Town Manager David Hodgkins met with the department heads to determine any areas of special concerns and to decide how to best operate within the guidelines and recommendations set forth by the CDC as well as by county, state and federal officials. Closing our Town Hall to the public was the first decision made to protect the employees who worked to keep services available to our citizens. This also led to the closing of the DMV office housed within Town Hall. The drive up window was utilized so our citizens were still able to complete business with the town. We knew keeping some sense of normalcy would be important for our citizens, especially since we had no way of knowing how long we would be dealing with COVID-19. Our employees continued their daily routines with a constant awareness of their personal safety, as well as that of others.
COVID-19 took some control out of our hands. Gov. Roy Cooper's order allowing utility customers to postpone payments and requiring towns to waive penalties created financial hardships for municipalities large and small. Farmville was not exempt from this hardship. A payment plan was
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established for our customers, each handled on an individual basis, to address this situation once the executive order expired on July 29.
Life as we knew it ceased to exist.
Churches were closed. Schools were closed.
Restaurants, entertainment venues and bars were closed. Salons and barber shops were closed. Gyms were closed. Libraries were closed. Recreational activities were halted
because our parks and playgrounds were ordered to close. Everything was closed. Face coverings, social distancing, hand sanitizer and hand washing were the main order of business. We learned of “essential” jobs and employees. Jobs were lost. Nerves were frayed. People were going hungry. And this is where “One Farmville” stepped up.
The Town of Farmville witnessed the
love of community at the hands of regular citizens. Lines were erased when the suffering of others became evident. Apostle Aaron McNair and business owner Jay Johnson teamed up to sponsor a food drive. Audrey Vines brought awareness to individual needs; food and clothing were generously donated by citizens to fill these needs. Our recreation department joined the library with offering virtual games and reading sessions. When it was announced that schools would be closed, Chief Donnie Greene and Isaiah Lubben
McRoy went to work on ideas and plans to keep our kids busy and safe. So many did so much to help make this unique time in the history of our town more bearable.
The day came that restaurants were once again open for business, but only for carryout service. Chief Greene and members of the
Board of Commissioners worked to designate three clearly marked parking spaces in front of each of the downtown restaurants. These
dedicated spaces were helpful with the flow of traffic of customers eager for someone else’s cooking. Easter came a month into the shutdown.
Church buildings were still closed, but congregations wanted to worship. They needed to gather in worship. So outdoor worship services happened throughout the town. Members of the Board of
Commissioners organized an Easter parade that caravanned through town. This sparked many mini-parades celebrating birthdays COVID-19 style, most notably Annie Gurganus’ 101st birthday on Aug. 26, 2020. Horns honked, people waved and shared the joy of life even in the midst of a global health crisis. Again, we were “One Farmville” in helping many celebrate special days in a
new way.
COVID-19 struck fear in the hearts of
many. As soon as it was announced that satellite testing sites were available, we made a request of the Pitt County Board of Commissioners to establish a testing site in Farmville. Commissioner Lauren White came to Farmville early on to view possible sites. Later, with the help of Commissioner Beth Ward, Farmville was approved for a temporary COVID-19 testing site, which was conveniently located at the Farmville Community Center. A total of 351 tests were administered at this site over a five-week
period, with one week being canceled due to Hurricane Isaias.
I have often said coming in as a new mayor that I was prepared for a hurricane, tornado, flood, snowstorm, ice storm or wind storm, but I wasn’t prepared for a pandemic. Looking back, I can see that with a newly revised emergency plan in place, we, as a town, were totally prepared for a pandemic. The right people in the right place at the right time made our plans work seamlessly. Our employees have stepped up to make things work. Our citizens have been extremely cooperative. The outside support I’ve received from Winterville Commissioner Tony Moore, Pitt County Commissioner Beth Ward, N.C. Sen. Don Davis and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis
has been valuable. As I am writing this, I am making preparations for a meeting in our town hall with Congressman Greg Murphy. We will be discussing our needs and how to best move forward.
Throughout this whole ordeal, there has been one constant. Our Town Manager David Hodgkins has worked tirelessly under unbelievable pressure. Fifteen to eighteen hour days were not unusual for David. I believe his experience, knowledge and levelheaded approach to difficult situations have made a difference in the way Farmville has made it through the pandemic. It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with him through this mess. Under his guidance, his team kept Farmville safe, well-informed and moving forward as One Farmville.
John Moore is Farmville's mayor and was a longtime member of the board of commissioners. 49
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Farmville, We've Got It All! Embracing progress while holding on to small town values makes Farmville a great place to live, work and grow Visit us and experience a community with small town charm, full of culture & history.
East Carolina University & Pitt Community College campuses located downtown EASY ACCESS TO BOTH MEDICAL & INDUSTRIAL CENTERS IN GREENVILLE To learn more or to schedule a tour, call 252-753-6700 or email farmvillenc.gov dhodgkins@farmville nc.gov
